AP Interview: Afghan candidate praises Karzai

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A leading Afghan presidential candidate has praised Hamid Karzai for allowing the country's first democratic transition of power and says he'll offer the longtime leader an advisory role if he wins.

Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai told The Associated Press on Thursday that he would propose creating a special office for Karzai to give him "a role and a voice in national affairs, regional affairs and international affairs."

Karzai has been Afghanistan's president since shortly after the Taliban were ousted in 2001, but he is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.

Ahmadzai, who is a front-runner among eight candidates, says Karzai's most important legacy will be peacefully ceding power.

Most experts doubt any of the candidates will get a majority in Saturday's vote so a runoff is widely anticipated.